JP2009501389A - Rectangular sensor grid providing functionality as a rectangular touchpad sensor and circular scroll area - Google Patents

Abstract

A touch pad having general-purpose touch pad functionality such as cursor control and special functionality by a circular scroll area is provided.
The touchpad provides general purpose touchpad functionality such as cursor control that is controlled by movement of a pointing object on the touchpad surface. You can change the operation mode of the touchpad and provide functionality through the circular scroll area defined as a circular area on the touchpad surface, so that you can manipulate the list and other functions that can be provided by the circular scroll area Can be improved.
[Selection] Figure 4

Description

(Mutual citation for related applications)
This document has a patent application reference number of 3339. CIRQ. PR, claiming priority to the subject matter contained in the provisional patent application filed July 12, 2005 with serial number 60 / 698,392, the contents of which are all cited herein Therefore, it shall be included in this document.
(Field of Invention)
The present invention generally relates to touchpads. More specifically, a capacitive sensitive touch pad having a rectangular shape defined by electrodes forming an XY grid with cursor control, and a circular scroll area can be prepared. It also allows a circular motion that scrolls the entire displayed list.

  The state of the art in capacitive sensitive touchpads is characterized by the touchpad and touchpad sensor circuit from Cirque (R) Corporation. Although Cirque (R) Corporation's touchpad technology is evolving, several past elements as well as current hardware and inspection methodologies can be used to demonstrate the present invention. From the perspective view of the hardware as shown in FIG. 1, the capacitive sensitive touchpad 10 taught by Cirque (R) Corporation has a grid of rows 12 and columns 14 (or X and Y) within the touchpad electrode grid. Included. These lattices are separated by some material, and in many cases are simply different layers, as shown here. Alternatively, an electrode grid is printed on opposite sides of a suitable substrate material. All touchpad parameter measurements are taken from one sensing electrode 16 but not from the X or Y electrodes themselves. Sensing electrodes 16 are also disposed around or interposed between electrodes 12 and 14 of touchpad 10. In addition, no fixed reference point is used for the measurement. This is an advantageous feature of the mutual capacitive touchpad that determines the capacitance change on the sense line.

  The touchpad sensor circuit 20 generates signals from the P and N generators 22 and 24 and sends them directly to the X and Y electrodes in various patterns. Therefore, there is a one-to-one correspondence between the number of electrodes on the touchpad electrode grid and the number of drive pins on the touch sensor circuit 20.

  The signals generated by the touchpad sensor circuit are sent directly to the X and Y electrodes in various patterns. Therefore, there is a one-to-one correspondence between the number of electrodes on the touchpad electrode grid and the number of drive pins on the touch sensor circuit 20.

  The touchpad 10 determines the position of a finger (or other capacitive object) on the touchpad surface without depending on the overall capacitance measurement. The touch pad 10 measures a charge imbalance with respect to the sensing line 16. When there is no indication object on the touch pad 10, the touch pad circuit 20 is in an equilibrium state and there is no signal on the detection line 16. There may or may not be a capacitive charge on the electrodes 12,14. In the Cirque (R) Corporation methodology, it is irrelevant. When the pointing device is unbalanced due to capacitive coupling, capacitance changes occur in the plurality of electrodes 12, 14 that make up the touchpad electrode grid. It is the capacitance change that is measured, not the total capacitance value on the electrodes 12,14. The touchpad 10 determines the capacitance change by measuring the amount of charge that must be injected into the sense line 16 to reestablish charge balance on the sense line.

  The touchpad 10 must perform two complete measurement cycles for the X and Y electrodes in order to determine the finger position. The steps are as follows for both X and Y electrodes.

  First, an electrode group (for example, a group selected from the X electrodes 12) is driven by the first signal from the P and N generator 22, and the first measurement value is acquired using the mutual capacitance measuring device 26, and the signal is maximized. The position of is determined. However, from this single measurement, it is not possible to know which side of the electrode is closest to the largest signal.

  Next, one electrode is shifted to one side of the nearest electrode, and the electrode group is driven again by a signal. In other words, an adjacent electrode is added on one side of the group and the electrode on the opposite side of the original group is no longer driven.

Third, a new electrode group is driven and the second measurement value is captured.
Finally, the position of the finger is determined using an equation that compares the magnitudes of the two measurement signals.
Thus, the touch pad 10 measures a change in capacitance in order to determine the position of the finger. All of the hardware and methodologies described above assume that the touch sensor circuit 20 is driving the electrodes 12, 14 of the touchpad 10 directly. That is, in a typical 12 × 16 electrode grid touchpad, a total of 28 pins (12 + 16 = 28) are available from the touch sensor circuit 20 used to drive the electrodes 12, 14 of the electrode grid. .

  Thus, the touch pad 10 measures a change in capacitance in order to determine the position of the finger. All of the hardware and methodologies described above assume that the touch sensor circuit 20 is driving the electrodes of the touchpad 10 directly. That is, in a typical 12 × 16 electrode grid touchpad, a total of 28 pins (12 + 16 = 28) are available from the touch sensor circuit 20 used to drive the electrodes 12, 14 of the electrode grid. . A small touchpad with a small number of electrodes used, such as a 6 × 8 electrode grid, is also provided by Cirque® Corporation. This is used in many portable electronic devices, such as mobile phones.

  General purpose touchpads such as those described above are typically used for touchpad functions such as cursor control, scrolling through lists, navigation through web pages, and the like. With regard to scrolling, it is customary to place vertical and / or horizontal scrolling areas on the edges of the rectangular touchpad.

  With the proliferation of portable electronic devices, there has been a need for innovative interfaces that make it easier for users to control such devices. For example, a part of the MP3 music device has a dedicated circular scroll area, which enables navigation of the entire list of music, artists, options, setting values, and the like.

  A rectangular touchpad combined with the functionality of a circular scroll area allows for quick movement of the entire list, but if it can provide universal functionality that can fit everything on the surface of a rectangular touchpad, Will have an advantage over the current state of technology.

  The purpose of the present invention is to provide general purpose touchpad functionality such as cursor control, plus special functionality with circular scroll areas, navigation through lists, web pages, and other that work with circular scroll areas. It is to provide a general purpose touchpad that enables all functions.

  In a preferred embodiment, the touchpad of the present invention provides general purpose touchpad functionality such as cursor control that is controlled by movement of a pointing object on the touchpad surface. You can change the operation mode of the touchpad and provide functionality through a circular scroll area defined as a circular area on the touchpad surface, allowing you to manipulate the list and other functions that can be provided by the circular scroll area Can be improved.

  These and other objects, features, advantages and alternative aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

  Reference is now made to the drawings, in which various elements of the invention are provided with reference numerals, and the invention is not discussed so that those skilled in the art can make and use the invention. The following description is merely an example of the principle of the present invention, and it goes without saying that the following claims should not be construed to be narrowed.

  In the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, the capacitive sensitive touchpad is modified to allow object detection and tracking on its surface. Such touchpads are manufactured by Cirque (R) Corporation. As explained above, capacitive sensitive touchpads can generally provide the functionality associated with touchpads. As an example, such functionality includes, but should not be considered as limited to, cursor control. Cursor control is considered to be a major touchpad function when used with a graphical user interface. As portable electronic appliances such as mobile phones and MP3 players become more sophisticated and provide more functionality, interfaces to such devices are also evolving.

  It should also be recognized that user interface improvements are not limited to portable electronic devices. Nowadays, many stationary devices and simply large devices are also including sophisticated interfaces.

  Accordingly, one embodiment of the present invention is a rectangular or square touchpad that provides typical touchpad functionality such as cursor control, button input, navigation through web pages, and the like. However, in addition to these “typical” touchpad functions, the present invention also provides for one or more circular scroll regions. The touchpad is modified to include a control circuit that recognizes different operating modes. In the first mode of operation, the touchpad functions as a typical touchpad. In the second mode of operation, the touchpad comprises one or more circular areas, in which case the touchpad has a dedicated scrolling capability.

  When considering the operation of the touchpad of the present invention, it is useful to see an example where the present invention can be used. Consider the circular scroll area already seen in some MP3 music players. The user can continuously scroll up and down the entire music list, artist, etc. by moving his / her finger in the circular direction. Thus, the circular motion allows the user to continue scrolling in one direction without interruption. In other words, the user does not need to lift the finger from the scroll area and reset it to the starting position in order to continue the desired direction of movement. Since the circular scroll area has neither a start position nor an end position, the user can keep moving in the desired direction without interruption. Reversing the direction of scrolling can also be accomplished by simply reversing the direction of circular motion in the circular path of the scroll region. In short, the present invention provides typical touchpad functionality and circular scroll functionality using the same touchpad.

  One way to provide these two functions using the same hardware is to provide a mode switch. The mode switch allows the user to switch back and forth between two different functions of the touchpad. Thus, different functionality is obtained by two different programs, which are typically stored in the touchpad circuit firmware and / or driver software. That is, no hardware modification is required to provide the desired dual functionality of the touchpad. The touchpad hardware functions the same regardless of the operating mode. Detection and tracking of a finger or other pointing object on the touchpad surface is the same for both functions. The difference is the information sent from the touchpad circuit to the device receiving the input.

  A control unit that switches between different operation modes can be provided to turn the touchpad itself on or off. For example, if the switch is a dedicated switch on the surface of the touch pad, it can be used only for switching the mode of the touch pad. Thus, the function of the switch remains unchanged regardless of the operation mode. Alternatively, instead of the switch provided on the touchpad itself, the switch can be mounted on the driver software.

  In the first mode of operation, the touchpad sends information that enables cursor control, web page navigation, button input, and the like. In the second mode of operation, the touchpad sends information that enables the scroll function, such as the direction of scrolling and the speed of scrolling. These functions should not be considered limiting. The touch pad sends any information corresponding to the operation mode to be used.

  It is contemplated that many different devices can utilize the dual functionality of the present invention. Such devices include both portable and non-portable devices, but should not be construed as limited thereto.

  Portable devices include digital cameras, digital camcorders, MP3 players, multimedia devices, mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), laptop computers, notebook computers, tablet computers, etc. But should not be construed as limited thereto.

  Non-portable devices include industrial equipment, desktop computers, kitchen appliance controllers, appliance controls such as washing machines and dryers, stereos, DVD players, receivers, entertainment such as home entertainment centers It may include, but is not to be construed as limited to, control devices for electronic devices in the home, including devices, control devices for automobiles and other vehicles.

  As a straightforward illustration of the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 shows a top view of the surface of the touchpad 10. This figure shows a rectangular touchpad defined by X and Y electrodes 12, 14 and one circular scroll area 30 that can function by changing the operating mode of the touchpad 10. Further, the touch pad 10 also operates by detecting the position of the pointing object on the surface of the touch pad. In this case, the position information is used to control scrolling of the entire list. Not to provide any touchpad functionality.

  It should be noted that the “rectangular” shape of the touchpad 10 in this embodiment should not be considered limiting. The touchpad can also have other shapes, such as a square. As such, the “circular” scroll region can be formed in any other arbitrary shape. What is important in the scroll region of the present invention is that as long as the user tries to move the pointing object, the movement must be able to follow some continuous path without interruption. In other words, the circular scroll area 30 is selected because it is easy to follow an uninterrupted path when executing the scroll function. However, other paths can also be stored in the firmware. That is, the second embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is intended to propose an example of a route and should not be regarded as a limitation of potential continuous routes that can be created.

  FIG. 3 shows a top view of the surface of the touchpad 10. This figure shows a rectangular touchpad defined by X and Y electrodes 12,14. However, this second embodiment of the present invention includes first and second circular scroll regions 40,42. The positions of the two circular regions 40, 42 are for illustrative purposes only and can be changed according to the designer's desires. For example, the circular scroll regions 40 and 42 may be placed at the corners of the touchpad for reasons of ease of placement.

  For example, the first circular scroll region 40 can be used to control the volume of the multimedia device. The second circular scroll area 42 can be used to control the playlist of the multimedia device.

  One important thing to note is that the function controlled by the scroll area can be dedicated, but can also be switchable. For example, the function controlled by the scroll area is already known to the touchpad when operating in a specific operating mode. In FIG. 3, the scroll area is a multimedia control unit. However, the operation of the multimedia control unit can be more than one. For example, in the first mode, the touchpad performs a typical touchpad function. In the second operation mode, the touch pad 10 controls the volume of the multimedia function and the movement of the entire playlist. In the third mode of operation, the first scroll area 40 controls some other function of the multimedia device. For example, the first scroll region may control fast forward and rewind of multimedia content in the multimedia device, and the second scroll region may be forward and backward multimedia content in the multimedia device. You can also control skipping.

  Any number of operation modes is possible. The mode of operation is only limited by the number of functions that need to be made available. The programming of the different operating modes is all performed in firmware and / or driver software.

  In addition, the present invention is not limited to one or two scroll areas on the touchpad 10. FIG. 4 shows a top view of the surface of the touchpad 10. The figure shows a rectangular touchpad and four scroll areas 50, 52, 54 and 56. As in other embodiments, these four scroll regions 50, 52, 54, and 56 can be dedicated to one function or multiple functions depending on the mode of operation of the touchpad 10.

  It should be noted that although the present invention has been described with respect to capacitive sensitive touch pad technology, other proximity sensitive and touch sensitive touch pad technologies can be used to implement the present invention. For example, the present invention may be implemented using electromagnetic, induction, pressure sensing, electrostatic, ultrasound, light, resistive membranes, semiconducting membranes, or other finger or stylus response techniques.

  It goes without saying that the above-described configuration is merely an example of application of the principle of the present invention. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The appended claims are intended to cover such modifications and arrangements.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an electrode grid of a prior art touch sensor circuit and a capacitive sensitive touchpad. FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of a rectangular area defined by electrodes and the top surface of the touch pad surface showing the outline of the first circular scroll area that can be put into a functional state by changing the operation mode of the touch pad. FIG. FIG. 3 is a top view of the surface of the touchpad showing a second embodiment of a rectangular area defined by electrodes and the outline of two circular scroll areas. FIG. 4 is a top view of the touchpad surface showing a third embodiment of a rectangular region defined by electrodes and the outline of four scroll regions.

Claims (20)

A method of providing general purpose touchpad functionality and scrolling functionality provided separately and for a specific purpose on a touchpad,
(1) The touchpad operates in a first operation mode dedicated to performing a general purpose touchpad function that does not include scrolling;
(2) actuating a switch to cause the touchpad to initiate a second mode of operation;
(3) the touchpad operating in the second mode dedicated to performing a scroll function;
A method.   The method of claim 1, wherein the second mode of operation further comprises providing a continuous path to the pointing object on the touchpad surface to perform the scroll function, wherein the user can A method in which it is not necessary to interrupt the movement of the pointing object in order to scroll in the direction.   3. The method of claim 2, wherein providing the continuous path further comprises providing a circular path to the pointing object. The method of claim 2, wherein providing the continuous path further comprises:
(1) scrolling in the first list direction by moving in the first path direction along the continuous path;
(2) scrolling in a direction opposite to the first list direction by moving along the continuous path in a direction opposite to the first path direction;
A method.   The method of claim 1, further comprising returning to the first mode of operation by performing a second actuation of the switch. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
(1) preparing a plurality of operation modes;
(2) sequentially moving from one operation mode to the next operation mode by operating the switch;
(3) returning to the first operating mode by operating the switch when operating in the last operating mode;
A method. 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:
(1) controlling the first scroll function in the first scroll operation mode;
(2) controlling the second scroll function in the second scroll operation mode;
A method.   The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a plurality of scroll regions on the touchpad.   9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of assigning a different scroll function to each of the plurality of scroll regions on the touch panel.   The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of allowing a user to assign a scroll function to at least one of a plurality of scroll regions on the touchpad.   4. The method of claim 3, further comprising providing a visual indication of the location of the circular path on the touchpad surface by placing an overlay on the touchpad.   The method of claim 1, wherein performing the scrolling function further comprises scrolling through items in a list, volume control, audio, video, or fast forward movement through multimedia content, volume control, audio, Scrolling capability from a group consisting of fast backward movement of video or entire multimedia content, volume control, forward jump of audio, video or entire multimedia content, and backward jump of entire multimedia content A method comprising the step of selecting.   The method of claim 1, further comprising: a digital camera, a digital camcorder, a portable music player, a multimedia device, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop computer, A method of providing at least two modes of operation on the touchpad in a portable electronic device selected from a group of portable electronic devices comprising a notebook computer and a tablet computer.   The method of claim 1, such as an electronic device in a home, further comprising an entertainment device such as an industrial device, desktop computer, kitchen appliance, stereo, DVD player, receiver, home entertainment center. Providing at least two modes of operation for the touchpad in an electronic appliance selected from the group of electronic appliances comprising a variety of household appliances and automobiles and other vehicles. A touchpad with general purpose touchpad functionality and scroll functionality, provided separately and for a specific purpose,
A touchpad capable of detecting the position of the pointing object on the surface of the touchpad and tracking its movement;
A control circuit for controlling the operation of the touchpad;
Software for controlling the operation of the control circuit, wherein the touchpad is dedicated to executing a general purpose touchpad function that does not include scrolling, and the touchpad performs a scrolling function Software, including the second mode specifically dedicated;
A switch for switching between the first operation mode and the second operation mode;
It has a touchpad.   16. The touchpad according to claim 15, wherein the touchpad is selected from the group consisting of electromagnetic, induction, pressure sensing, electrostatic, ultrasound, light, resistive film, semi-conductive film, or other finger or stylus response techniques. A touchpad.   16. The touchpad according to claim 15, wherein the switch further comprises a dedicated mechanical switch.   The touch pad according to claim 17, wherein the switch is a non-mechanical switch controlled by software.   16. The touchpad according to claim 15, wherein the touchpad is a digital camera, a digital camcorder, a portable music player, a multimedia device, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop computer, A touchpad implemented in a portable electronic device selected from the group of portable electronic devices consisting of notebook computers and tablet computers.   16. The touchpad according to claim 15, such as an electronic device in a home, including an entertainment device such as an industrial device, a desktop computer, a kitchen appliance, a stereo, a DVD player, a receiver, a home entertainment center. A touchpad implemented in an electronic appliance selected from a group of electronic appliances consisting of home appliances and automobiles and other vehicles.

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